Affordable Housing Plan Scorecard
Eastford, CT
Connecticut’s severe lack of affordable housing can be felt in Windham County, where nearly 20% of homerenters and 30% of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing-related costs. To address the affordable housing crisis, the Connecticut legislature passed General Statutes Sec. 8-30j in 2017, requiring every municipality to adopt an affordable housing plan by June 1, 2022. As of June 2024, 14 out of 16 towns in Windham County have adopted plans.
These plans represent an opportunity for towns and cities to demonstrate their commitment to meaningful local action that will create more affordable homes in Windham communities. According to the Planning for Affordability in Connecticut guidebook published by the Connecticut Department of Housing in December 2020, town plans should outline tangible steps for increasing access to housing for people of all income levels, backgrounds and stages of life in all communities. You can read the affordable housing plan adopted by the town here.
The criteria used in this scorecard was developed using the guidance outlined in the Planning for Affordability in CT guidebook created by the Connecticut Department of Housing and Regional Plan Association.
This work was supported by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. The Affordable Housing Plans were reviewed and scored by the Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity, DesegregateCT and Regional Plan Association.